The Grenada gazette. (Grenada, Miss.) 1885-18??, 1887-05-14

SsNy VI N0AAvo WILL u CTOeS VI
palm. After making the clergyman a
present. they were allowed to throw
the cross into the water; If it swan,
the thrower was to outlive the year; if
1t, unfortunately sank, he was to die
within that time.
VI other Cornish wishing wells may
be mentioned that at Gulval, which is
thu described in Gilbert's "Parochial
History of CORNWALL: ITO this place
numbers Of people. time out of mind.
nave resorted for pleasure and profit
OF their health. As the credulous coun-
try people do in these days, not only
to drink the waters thereof, but to in
quire after the life or death of their
absent friends; where, being arrived,
they demanded the question at the we'll
whether such a person by name be liv-
ing, in health, sick, or dead. If the
party be living and in health, the still
quiet water of the well-pit, as soon as
the question is put, will instantly bub-
bic or boil up rs a pot; but if it remain
quiet, it is an indication that the party
is dead" A formula used at certain
OF the wishing wells of the West of
England by young ladies, when sum-
ming up the qualifications they wish
to find in their future husbands, is thus:
husband, St. Catherine:
A handsome one. St. Catherine:
A rich one, st. Catherine;
A nice one, St. Catherine;
And soon, St. Catherine.
|. W. may mention here that on a par
ticular day in the year, the young
women Of Abbotsbury were formerly in
the habit Of visiting the little Norman
chapel of St. Catherine at Milton
Abbey, Dorset, where they made use
of the above rhyme. A correspondent
OF Notes and Queries says this appeal to
st. Catherine is somewhat singular, as
on the Continent she is generally con-
sidered the special patroness Of spin
sters, an old maid being said to '~'coitfer
St. Catherine"
Referring also to the pins used in the
wishing wells Of Cornwall, it should be
noted that these are almost universal
ly employed in different parts of the
country. Thus, throughout the north
of England we have wishing wells
where the passer-by may breathe his
wish, ''and may rest assured of its
fulflment if he only drops crooked pin
into the water" The worm well at
Lambton is one of these, writes MI.
Henderson. in his Folklore of the
Northern Countess There is another
in Westmorland; and another at
Wooler, in Northumberland. OF this
last, he adds, a friend tells me that cit
is scarcely three months since 1 looked
into the maiden Or wishing well at
Wooler, and saw the crooked pins
strewed over the bottom among the
gravel" Again, we might mem
ton St. Helen's well, near
Seton, Lancashire, the bottom
Of which, says Mr.. Hampson, in
his "Medii Aevi Kalendarium,"
Il have frequently seen almost
covered with pins, which must have
been thrown in for this purpose" 1t
seems that young ladies have still con-
tinued up to recent times to throw pins
into this well, and to draw conclusions
as to the fidelity of their lovers, the
date of marriage, and so forth, by the
turning Of the pin to the north OF any
other point of the compass.
Instances of the same form of cred
ulity are of repeated occurrence in
Scotland; and Colonel Forbes Leslie, in
his valable work Oh the early Races
of Scotland" observes that 'there are
few parishes without a holy WE'LL"
Sir John Lubbock also adds that in the
Scotch islands are many sacred wells.
and that he has himself seen the holy
well in one of the islands of Loeb Maree
surrounded by the little offerings of
the p~easantry, consisting principally of
rags and h~alfpence. We may further
quote the testimony of Mr.. Campbell,
who, in his Popular Tales Of the West
Highlands" writes thus: 'Holy heal
ing wells are common all over the
Highlands, and people still leave offer
ings Of pins and nails and bits of rag, |
though few would confess it. There is
a well in lslay where l myself have,
after drinking, deposited copper caps
amongst a hoard Of pins and buttons and
similar gear, placed in chinks and trees
at the edge of the Witches well.
There is another well with similar Of
ferings freshly placed beside it III Loeb
Maree." Among further illustrations,
he informs us how a well in the Black
Isle of Cromarty has miraculous heal.
ing powers, and adds: "a country
woman tells me that about forty years
ago, she remembers it being surrounded
by a crowd Of people every first Tues
day in June, who bathed in and drank